Water-heating apparatus



July 14, 1925.

J. S. ERICKSON WATER HEATING APIEARATUS FildYEil 21 1924 Patented July 14, 1925,

' UNITED STATES- PATENT oF'Flc-E,

JA COB S. EBICKSON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FERGUSON AND LANGE FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF; ILLINOIS.

WATER-HEATING nrraaa'rus.

Application filed ;'d .nuary 21, 1924; Serial No. 587,444.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, [JACOB S. ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State paratns of the kind describedand claimed in my co-pending application Serial No.- 586,188 filed Se temberfith, 1922.,

One of'the jects of my present inven- 'tion is the provision of apparatus so arranged th'at very hot water, for example,

I water ofa temperature ranging from 17 0 to 205"" F.-, may be obtained at the outlet faucets in a a suitable consumption system suitable for washing dishes, laundry purposes, etc. and at practically no additional operating expense; ,r

- -A further object of my'invention is the provision of apparatus having two systems 26 for delivering hot water and so arranged that water may be obtained from one of the systems at a temperature for example, 110 to 14O F., suitable for bathing and ordinary kitchen uses while very hot water may be obtained from the other system poses, etc.

The invention consists in the novel constructions-and arrangements to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objectsas will appear from the following description of a certain preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- 1, is a diagrammatic view of water heatmgapparatus embodying the principles of my invention; and 3 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the water heaters preferably employed. by me in the apparatus, L 1

Like characters of reference designate like parts in both views.

' Referring now tothe drawings, and particularly tofthe diagram shown in Fig. 1'

thereof, it will be seen that the apparatus includes a. storage tank 5 supplied with cold water by means of a pipe 6 leading from a suitable for washing dishes, laundry pursource-of supply which terminates a short distance above the bottom of the tank. The tank 5 is connected with a water heater, designated generally by the reference character 7 positioned in the heating boiler 8, by' a plurality of pipes, including a substantially vertically disposed stand pipe 9,

the upper end of which projects upwardly through and terminates a substantial distance above the bottom of the tank and the lower end of which is provided with a shutofl cock 10. The pipe 9 is provided with a fitting 11 from one side ofwhich extends a horizontal pipe 12 connected by a fitting 13 with a'relatively short pipe 14. The pipe 14 is connected by means of'a fitting 15 with a horizontally extending pipe 16. A fitting 17 is provided on one end of the pipe 16 and is connected by a pipe 18 with the water heater 7. The pipe 191s connected at its lower end to the water heater 7 and at its upper end we fitting 20. A horizontally extendingpipe 21 is connected at one end to the fitting 20 and at the other end to a fitting 22, the latter being connected by a pipe 23 with thestorage tank. F

A hot water circulating consumption system including a pipe 24 extends to the various places at which the medium hot water is to be used, faucets 25 being provided to draw ofi-the-waterjwhen desired. The up per end of the pipe '24: is connected to a re.

'turn pipe 26 which is connected to the pipe 16 by means of a fitting-27. The lower end ot the pipe 2ft is connected by a plurality of pipes 28 with the pipe 29 which extends through the fitting 22 and the pipe 23 and into the storage tank 5, the lower end of said pipe 29 extendinga substantial distance below the level at which the pipe 23 discharges into the tank. Arecording thermometer 30 may be connected in the consumption system just described, if desired.

A check valve 31 is preferably provided'in the return pipe 26. A cold water supply pipe 32 ordinarily extends alongside the pipe 24 but, as this pipe forms no part of the apparatus, its variousconnections and outlets have not been illustrated.

A water heater, designated generally by the reterencecharacter 33, is also positioned inthe boiler 8. A pipe 3 L leads from the upper portion of the tank 5 and is connected to theupper-end of a pipe 35 by a fitting- 36. Fittings 37 and 38 and pipes39 and 40 connect the pipe '35 with the heater 33. A pipe ,41 leads from the heater 33 and is connected by afitting 42 with a pipe 43.

A hot water consumption system leads from the pipe 43, said system in the present case including a pipe 44 which extends to the various places at which the very hot water is to be used, faucets 45 being provided to draw off the water when desired. The upper end of the pipe 44 may be connected to a return pipe 46, the latter pipe being I so as to provide chambers 50 and 51 in the connected to the pipe 35. A check va'1ve47 is preferably provided in the return pipe 46.

The water heaters 7 and 33 are preferably of the type shown in detail in Fig. 2. Each heater includes a cast hollow head 48 provided with a partition 49 which is formed head. One wall of the'chamber 50 is provided with an opening 52 andis threaded forthe reception of the water inlet pipe, 18.or 40, as the case may 'be. One wall of the chamber 51 is provided with an opening 53 also threaded for the reception of the 'water discharge pipe 19 or 41, as the case may be. The inner side of the head 48 is provided with a flange 54 adapted to be placed against the face of the boiler and to be secured thereto by a plurality of cap screws. The flange 54 is provided with an opening 55'and is threaded for the reception spect to the openings 57 and 55, and the pipe 56. The outer end of a relatively small pipe 60 is placed in the opening 59, said pipe being secured in the partition 49 in any desired manner, for example, by turning the outer end. of the pipe over-the adjacent portion of the'partition. The pipe 60 extends inwardly into the pipe 56, the inner end of said pipe 60 being left open and terminating somewhat short of the end of the pipe 56. The pipe 60 is also preferably formed of a non-corrosive substance the heat conductivity of which is relatively high, and, as the walls thereof are quite thin, the pipe is preferably formed of brass to give it the desired strength. The wall of the chamber 50 .opposite t e partition 49 is provided with an o ening 61 threaded for) the reception of a p ug 62. The incoming water flows into the chamber 50 thence-through thesmall ipe 60 and is dischargedinto the iimer end of the large pipe 56 where its direction of flow is reversed, the water then flowing out of the pipe 56 into the chamber 51. The course of the water through the heater is indicated by the several arrows. As the pipe 56 of the heater is subject to the heating action of the heating medium surrounding it, said pipe is heated, and, consequently, the temperature of the water while passing through said pipe will be raised very considerably. The hot water flowing in the pipe 56 transmits heat to the pipe 60 and said last mentioned pipe is heated to a considerable extent. By this arrangement the temperature of the water is adually raised as it enters the pipe 60, it eing subjected to the greatest degree of heat while passing through the pipe 56. Since the heat conductivity of the pipes 56 and 60 is relativel high, the efiiciency of the heater is also high.

0pe'rati0n.The cold water in the tank '5 flows to the heater 7 where its temperature is raised, the heated water from said heater being returned to the upper portion of the tank. There is a continuous circulation of the water from the tank, through theheater 7 back to the tank, the temperature of the water in the tank usually being from 110 to 140 F. There is also a continuous circulation of the medium hot water from the tank through the circulatory consumption system comprising the pipes 24 and 26, water from said system being suitable for bathing v and ordinary kitchen uses. Since the return pipe 26 is connected to the pipe leading to the heater 7, the feed waterin said heater is tempered, thus increasing the efliciency of the apparatus. It will be noted that the pipe 29 is. provided with a port 29 which is so located that communication is established between said pipe and the upper portion of the chamber in the fitting 22. This arrangement prevents a column of air being trapped in the pipe 23, the fitting 22 and pipe 21 because in drawing water from the pipe 24, any air present in the pipe 23, fitting 22 or pipe 21'will be drawn through the port 29, thus insuring free circulation of the water through the pipes 21 and 23. By connecting the heater 33 in the manner heretofore described, the hot water in the upper portion of the tank flows to the heater 33 where it is further heated, its temperature, when it leaves said heater, ordinarily ranging from 170- to 205 F. .The very hot water circulates from the heater 33. through the pipes 41, 43, the consumption pipe 44 and the return pipe 46.

Apparatus embodying the principles of my invention has been found to be very efficient in operation and satisfactory in service. The only appreciable additional expense is in installation because the amount of fuel used in the boiler to step-up or boost latory system comprisin ited, asit will be obvious that modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim: i 1 1. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium,,two water heaters positioned in said receptacle in such manner that they are subject to the heating action of said medium, a storage tank, means connecting said tank with one of said heaters and so arranged that a-supply of medium hot water is maintained in said tank, means for supplying medium hot water from said tank to the other of said heaters, and a delivery pipe connected with said last-named heater. I

2. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium, two water heaters positioned in said receptacle in such manner that they are subject to the heating action of.

said medium, a storage tank, means connecting said tank with one of said heaters and so arranged that a supply of medium hot water is maintained in said tank. means for supplying medium hot water from said tank to the other of said'heaters, and a circulating consumption system connected with said lastnamed heater.

- 3. In combination with a receptacle conwith a source of water supply, a pipe leading from the lower portion of said tank to one of said heaters, a pipe leading from said last-named heater to the upper portion of said tank, a pipe'leading from the upper portion of said tank to the other of said heaters and a delivery pipe connected with said last-named heater.

4. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium, two water heaters positioned in said receptacle in such manner that they are subjectto the heating action of said medium, a storage tank connected with asourceof water supply, a pipe leading from the lower portion of said tank to one of said heaters, a pipe leading from said last-named heater to the upper portion of said tank, a pipe leading from the 11 per portion of said tank to the other of sai heaters, and a circulating consu'm tion system connected with said last-named eater. 1

- 5. In combinatlon with a receptaclecontaining a heating medium, two Water heaters positioned in said receptacle in such manner that they are subject to the heating action of said medium, water supply means leadheaters, and a delivery pipe connected with I said last-named heater. 6. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium, two water heaters positioned in said receptacle in such mannet that they are subject to the heating action of said medium, water supply means leading to one of said heaters, water circulating means leading from the heater connected to said water su ply means to the other of said heaters, an a circulatin consumption system connected with said lastnamed heater.

7. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium, two water heaters positioned in said receptacle in such manner that they are subject to the heating action of said medium, water supply means leading to one of said heaters, a circulating consumption system connected with the heater connected to said water supply means,

said medium, water supply means leading to one of said heaters, a circulating consumption system connected with, the heater connected to said water supply means, water circulating means leading from the heater connected with said water supply means to theother of said heaters, and a circulating consumption system connected with said lastnamed heater.

9. In combination with av receptacle containing a heating medium, a water heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that itv is subjectto the heating action of said medium, storage means connected to a source ofwater supply, conduit means leading from-saidstorage means to said heater,

a pipe leading from said heater to said storage means, a hot water circulating system including a pipe leading from said storage means and'having outlet means and a return pipe leading from said second named pipe back to one of the two means. first named, a second heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is also subjeot to the heating action of said medium, a

pipe leading from said storage means to said second heater and a delivery pipe connected with said second heater. I

10. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating 'medium, 'a water heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is subject to the heating action of said medium, storage means connected to a source of water supply, conduit means leading from said storage means to said heater, a pipe leading fr0m' said heater to said storage means, a hot water circulating system lncluding a pipe leading from said storage means and having outlet means and a return pipe leading from said second named pipe back to one'of the two means first named, a second heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is also subject to the heating action of said medium, a pipe leading from said storage means to said second heater and a circulating consumption system connected with said last-named heater. 11. In oombinationwith a receptacle containing a heating medium, a water heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is subject to the heating action of said medium, storage means connected to a source of water supply, conduit means leading from the lower portion of said storage means to said heater, a pipe leading from said heater to the upper portion of said storage means, a hot water circulating system including a pipe leading from the upper portion of said storage means and having outlet means and a return pipe leading from said second-named pipe back to one of the two means first named, a second heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is also subject to the heating action of said medium, a pipe leading from the upper portion of said storage means to said second heater, and a delivery pipe connected with said second heater. 7 v 12. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium, a water heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is subject to the heating action of said medium, storage means connected to a source of water supply, conduit means leading from the lower portion of said storage means to said heater, a pipe leading from said heater to the upper portion of said storage means, a hot water circulating system including a pipe leading from the upper portion of said storage means and having outlet means and a return pipe leading from said secondnamed pipe back to one of the two means first named, a second heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is also subject to the heating action of said me dium, a pipe leading from the upper por- 1,645,e2o i tion of said storage means to said second heater, and a circulatingconsumption system connected with said last-named heater.

13. In combination with a receptacle conflowing therein must discharge into the up per portion of said storage means, a hot water circulating system including a pipe having controlled outlet means, said second-named pipe leading from the upper portion of said storage means and having its intake end sufliciently remote from the discharge end of said first-named pipe that water flowing into said second-named pipe must be taken from the supply in said storage means, and a return pipe leading from the discharge end of said secondnamed pipe back to one of the two means first named, asecond heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it also is subject to the heating action of said medium, a pipe leading from the upper portion of said storage means to said second heater, and a delivery pipe connected with said second heater.

14. In combination with a receptacle containing a heating medium, a water heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it is subject to the heating action of said medium, storage means connected to a source of water supply, conduit means leading from the lower portion of said storage means to said heater, a pipe leading from said heater and arranged so that water flowing therein must discharge into the upper portion of said storage means, a hot water circulating system includmga pipe having controlled outlet means, said second-named pipeleading from the upper portion of said storage means and having its intake end sufiiciently remote from the dischar e end of said first-named pipe that water fibwing into said second-named plpe must be taken from the supply in said storage means, and 'a return pipe leading from the discharge end of said second-named pipe back to one of the two means first named, a second heater positioned in said receptacle in such manner that it also is subject to the heating action of said medium, a plpe leading from the upper portion of said storage means to said second heater, and a c rculating consumption system connected with said last-named heater.

JACOB S. ERICKSON. 

